Electric socket



Och 1927" H. SHAPIRO I ELECTRIC SOCKET Original Filed Feb. 6. 1925 IN VEN TOR.

HYMAN 5HAPIRO Patented Oct. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES ,murlazr oFF c -HYMAN snarmo, or BRooxLYmnEw vonmuassrenonjro Mortars rnorr Ann LOUIS rnorr, TRADING unncan THE FIRM NAME THE M. rnorr 00., on NEW YORK, N. Y. o

anaemic socxn'r.

Original application filed February 6, 1925, Serial'No. 7,207. I Divided and this application filed July 20, 1926. Serial No. 123,602.

This invention relates to detachable electric fittings, such as switch type, duplex,

lamp-socket, plug fittings adapted to receive a pair of electric bulbs or a pair of connectors of other electric apparatus.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved, selectively operated, pullchain, switching means which is particularly adapted to be incorporated in lamp socket plug fittings of the character described.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character describedintion and in my co-pending applicatlon Se rial No. 123,603, filed July th, 1926, simultaneously herewith.

The invention accordingly consistsin the features of construction, combinations of ele-- merits. and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims. I 1

In the accom anying drawing, in which is shown one o the various possible illus trative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a completely assembled socket. g

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the exteriorly threaded shell cap which assists in holding the sections of the socket in assembled relationship. Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the movable member of the switch.

Referring in detail to the drawin ,10 denotes an electric lamp socket embo ying the'invention. Said socket is seen tocomprise two mating, molded, insulating sect ons 15 and 16, each including an interme diate body portion 17 of substantial solidity and on opposite sides of such intermediate portlon, a pair of short arms hollowed out to provide internally threaded socket ortions 18, 18 disposed approximately at right angles to each other. Forming a continuation of the body portion of each memberis a plug portion 19, said body portions being cut away or recessed internally as indicated at 20 to accommodate the switching mechanism. Whenthe two sections 15, 16 are placed together in mating relationship, the

. two hollow neck portions cooperate to-provide a plug of oval exterior shape 'upon which fits an exteriorly threaded shell 21 provided with an inwardly turned flange 22 having an oval opening therein to prevent rotation of the shell on the neck of the socket. By virtue of this construction, I am able to eliminate the necessity for exteriorly threading the socket neck and simply slip the shell in place and hold it against rotation on the neck by the non-circular flange 22. Suitable supplemental means may be provided for anchoring the shell 21 against rotation relative to the neck of the socket member such for instance, as by soldering the shell 21 to the terminal contact member 51, as will hereinafter appear.

As an additional precaution against the ac cidental separation or relative displacement of the two mating sections 15 and 16, I preferably employ. annular metallic bands 50 encircling the extremities of the short arm portions thereof, said bands being frictionally fitted or otherwise firmly but preferably detachably secured in place. The two sec- .tions of the do lex sockets are thus secured together at thelr three outermost parts and are accurately maintained in proper mating relation-ship.

It will be understood that the shell portion 21 is screwed into a suitable outlet plug in the wall or in the socket. of an ordinary electric light fixture and the sockets 18 receive electric bulbs or connections for other elecerr trical apparatus. I equip the sockets 13..

with contactmemb'ers to engage the said shell and the central terminal contact of an electric lamp having the ordinary Edison base. With the form of the invention shown in the drawing, the switch mechanism by which both lamps may ,be simultaneously switched on or either optionally switched ed and which necessitates the use of an exte rior. switching mechanism when itis desired to cut off bothlamps.

The current carryingv terminal contactmembers 51 which connect with shell 21 with the bottoms of the sockets 18 each consist of a single length ofconducting mater al mounted in mating grooves 52 in the body ortions of the moldings. Members 51 may be solderedas at 53 to the shell 21 and may terminate inintegral spring fingers 54 projecting into the bottoms of the sockets 18. A conducting strip 55 integral with the. tongue 56 which projects beyond the neck-portion of the device, and constitutes the central plug contact, has pivoted to its lower end a rotary switch carrying member 57, the latter being mountedfor rotation upon a stud 58 and accommodated in the recess 20 within the body portion of the device.

Contact fingers 60 include sprin termin al ends 61 disposed in the sides of t e sockets 18 and are adapted to be engaged by terminal portions'62 of theT-shaped'switch memher 63 which is carried by member 57. Memofthe sockets 18. Pulling on the left hand end of chain 65 will open the circuit of the. right hand socket while opposite movementher 57 is preferably constructed to receive a conventional type of pull chain -for effecting rotation thereof. I In accordance with a preferred einbodiment of the invention, I show the member 57 as provided with a radially disposed integral block 66 having near its 'peripheralend, a

will open the circuit of the left hand socket as will be readily understood. With this type of switching 'mechanism, the duplex socket should be connected to a suit-able wall switch or. other exterior circuit controlling. 'deviceinthe event-that it is desired simultaneously to open both circuits since there is no complete cut out position of the switch 63.

While I have .shown duplex socket members embodying in detail the constructionof a pull chain type of-switch, it is understood that various methods of securing the complementary socket sections together may be employed but the method shown in the drawing an described above is seen to greatly expedite assembling the device in that it obviates the necessity of exteriorly threading the plugs of the sockets or accurately fitting the I shells on the plug portion. The current carrying members or conducting arms are accommodated in complementary grooves formed in the complementary sectlonsof the duplex socket, that is to say, the contact arm 51 and conducting strip 55 are simply laid in place in their respective grooves when the two sections of the socket are assembled and require the use of no securing device, such as screws, rivets, or the like.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which'the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is .well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use. As various possible embodimentsmight be made of the above invention, and as various changes mightbe 'made in the embodiment above set'forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forthor shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A duplex socket including a pair of complementary sections of molded insulating material cooperating to provide a pair of sockets, terminal devices in the sockets, switching mechanism intermediate the sockets and'controlling one terminal memberof each socket, said switching mechanism ineluding a rotatable switch carrier having aseries of switch arms mounted thereon and adapted to contact with the terminals in the 2. A duplex socket including a pair ofcomplementary sections of molded insulatin material cooperatin' to provide a pairflo sockets, terminal switching mechanism intermediate the sockets and controllingone terminal member of socket, said switch arms being so arranged." that in any position of the rotary. member,

12 0 evices in the sockets,

each socket, said switching mechanism in-,

eluding a rotatable switch carrier having a series ofswitch arms mounted thereon and adapted to contact with the terminals in the socket, said switch arm bemg so arranged that in any position of the rotary member, one of them is always in contact with one of the terminals and in one position of the rotary member, two of them are in contact with the terminals whereby the circuits of the sockets may be simultaneously closed or either circuit may be optionally closed with the other open, the means for operating the switch carrying member including a pull chain having its intermediate portion connected to but insulated from said terminal member and its two ends depending from the socket whereby to effect selective rotation of said member in either direction.

3. An'electrical switching mechanism comprising a pair of stationary contacts, a rotary switch carrying member, movable switch points spaced about the periphery of said member and arranged so that one of them is in contact with one of the stationary contacts and two of them may optionally be placed simultaneously in contact with said stationary contacts, a pull chain for operating said rotary switch carrying member, said chain having one of its intermediate links connected to said member near its periphery and its twoends depending therefrom.

4. An electrical switching mechanism comprising a pair of stationary contacts, a rotary switch carrying member, movable switch points spaced about the periphery of said member and arranged so that one of them is in contact with one of the stationary contacts and two of them may optionally be placed simultaneously in Contact with said stationany contacts, a pullchain for operating said rotary switch carrying member, said chain having one of its intermediate links connected to said member near its periphery and its two ends depending therefrom, said members including a radial portion, of increased thickness having a link receiving pocket in the face thereof..

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

- HYMAN SHAPIRO. 

